#7 - Big East Conference Outlook

Projected Order of Finish

1. South Florida
2. West Virginia
3. Rutgers
4. Pittsburgh
5. Louisville
6. Connecticut
7. Cincinnati
8. Syracuse

Big East MVP: Pat White, QB, West Virginia

Big East Offensive Player of the Year: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh

Big East Defensive Player of the Year: George Selvie, DE, South Florida

Big East Newcomer of the Year: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

Big East Game of the Year: South Florida @ West Virginia - Dec 6

Closing Point: An eight team league with seven bowl bids? The league will struggle to fill those seven spots…Everyone is waiting on Syracuse to catch up to the rest of the league.

The University of Memphis is set to make a “big announcement” tomorrow.  They say that this announcement is going to make national news and it has been kept very quiet.  If anyone knows what it is, they sure aren’t talking.  We think it’s one of the following five things.  It could be anything, but these are the most likey:

1. An announcement about a contract with Nike.  It’s nothing like what Nike did for Oregon, but it’s close.
2. An announcement about basketball scheduling.  There is one more spot for a non-conference game.  Kansas?
3. A football announcement.  Something about a new stadium or facility or weight room.
4. An announcement about the basketball’s relationship with China.
5. An announcement about a conference change.

The Eagles are down a player at the position where they can not afford to lose anyone…. wide receiver. Kevin Curtis is said to be out indefinitely with a sports hernia, but Andy Reid expected Curtis to return this season. The Eagles are in a tough spot right now because Reggie Brown is also out with an injury. Asked whether he anticipated bringing in another receiver, Reid told the media, “No.” Well why the hell not? Joe Horn, 36, is old, but if he is healthy he might be worth adding to the roster. Maybe Philly could swing a deal and get Anquan Boldin? Whisenhunt said today that they expected to have Boldin’s contract extended soon, but things could change. They could always try cloning Westbrook?

We picked The Eagles to finish third in the division (10-6) right behind the New York Giants (11-5). Without Curtis and with a banged up Reggie Brown I doubt the Eagles will see 10 wins. Even 8 wins might be a reach with guys like Jason Avant, Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett as your wide receivers.

#8 - Big Ten Outlook

Projected Order of Finish

1. Ohio State
2. Illinois
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Michigan
6. Purdue
7. Iowa
8. Michigan State
9. Indiana
10. Minnesota
11. Northwestern

Big Ten MVP: Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells, RB, Ohio State

Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: P.J. Hill, RB, Wisconsin

Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

Big Ten Newcomer of the Year: Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State

Big Ten Game of the Year: Michigan @ Ohio State - Nov. 22

Closing Point: This one is simple. Ohio State loses to an SEC team in the BCS National Championship game for the third year in a row.

Fox News

BBC

Ricky Williams is not only back with the Miami Dolphins for the 2008 season, he is also the number one back on the depth chart as of today. Apparently the move came after Ronnie Brown hurt his thumb in the first quarter of Saturdays game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brown is also coming off a season ending ACL surgery that forced him to miss over half the season in 2007. Williams was sidelined as well in 2007 after tearing his chest muscle during the Miami’s first game. I injury was just one of many speed bumps that Ricky Williams has encountered since joining the NFL.

Via The Sun Sentinel:

December 1999: Ricky Williams finishes an injury-plagued rookie season with the Saints in which he rushes for 884 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. Williams has difficult relationships with teammates, management and media because of behavior that is perceived as eccentric.

February 2001: A psychiatrist diagnoses Williams with social anxiety disorder.

April 2001: The Saints draft running back Deuce McAllister, in part because of indications Williams might play baseball full time.

May 2002: Williams fails a drug test soon after a trade to the Dolphins and is placed in the league’s substance-abuse program.

December 2003: Williams tests positive for marijuana a second time and is fined four weeks’ pay; Williams appeals.

January 2004: Williams shaves his dreadlocks during a trip to Australia. Upon his return, Williams says the new haircut represents a fresh start.

July 23, 2004: Williams calls Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt to tell him of his decision to retire, one week before the start of training camp.

July 29, 2004: It becomes public that Williams had lost his appeal for his second failed test and had failed a third drug test, which calls for an automatic four-game suspension.

December 2004: Williams tells 60 Minutes he quit out of fear that his third failed drug test would become public knowledge.

June 2005: Williams is reinstated by the league. He must serve a four-game suspension at the start of the 2005 season and is subject to 10 random drug tests a month for the rest of his NFL career.

December 2005: After sharing rushing duties with Ronnie Brown, Williams finishes the season with 168 carries for 743 yards. He fails a fourth drug test.

April 10, 2006: Williams appeals his fourth failed drug test.

April 25, 2006: Williams’ appeal is denied and he is suspended from the NFL for one year. He is eligible for reinstatement for the 2007 season.

April 18, 2007: Williams sends a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell applying for reinstatement, a week before he can officially rejoin the league.

May 11, 2007: Sources say Williams tested positive for marijuana for a fifth time in April and will not be eligible to apply for reinstatement until September.

Oct. 1, 2007: Williams applies for re-instatement.

It is kind of nice to think that Williams can get through all the things he has brought on himself and still come out on the other side.

It has been apparent in training camp and the preseason that Williams still has the ability to play, but the one thing he does not have is time. Williams, 31, is not getting any younger and has proven to be injury prone at times. Ronnie Brown, 26, is the future for the Miami Dolphins. I doubt a thumb injury is going to keep Brown from missing any regular season games, but no one knows if he is going to be the same dominant running back from last year. Some news outlets have even reported that the Dolphins were looking to trade Brown? The rumor was quickly squashed by Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano. I guess for now Williams is the starter in Miami, however I do not think it is reasonable to believe that Williams will start the entire season ahead of Ronnie Brown. The platoon system seems to be what most NFL teams like and the Miami Dolphins will be no different.

Tonight Usain Bolt runs the 200 meters.  We all know that he will win.  The world record is 19.32.  I predict that he will run a 19 flat.  He broke his 100 meters world record by .3 seconds, so why not this one too?

Apparently Amanda Beard is about as mature as 1st grader. Beard was asked on the “Johnjay and Rich Show,” whether she and Michael Phelps had ever dated. Beard replied by saying “Eww, that’s nasty”. “Come on, I have really good taste. He’s really not my type.”

What is not to like about a “8 time Gold Medalist”? Oh well right? It’s not like Phelphs is going to be hurting in the chick department anytime soon.

#9 - Big 12 Outlook

Projected Order of Finish

North

1. Missouri
2. Kansas
3. Colorado
4. Nebraska
5. Kansas State
6. Iowa State

South

1. Oklahoma
2. Texas
3. Texas Tech
4. Texas A&M
5. Oklahoma State
6. Baylor

Big 12 MVP: Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri

Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: William Moore, S, Missouri

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year: Darrell Scott, RB, Colorado

Big 12 Game of the Year: Oklahoma vs Texas - Oct. 11

Closing Point: It’s no longer Texas and Oklahoma waiting on everyone else to catch up. Missouri, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State all have huge expectations this season.